It’s a question we hear a lot from commercial property owners and managers: How can I make my commercial roof last longer?

That’s what we’re going to answer today. Here are the best actions you can take to extend the life of your commercial roof for as long as possible.

Create a Regular Maintenance Plan

Prevention is the single best way to avoid major roofing headaches. That’s why you want to create a comprehensive plan for the regular maintenance and inspection of your commercial roof. This way, you’ll have a plan in place that protects against many roofing issues, and you’ll be ready when an issue does arise.

Outline the specific tasks that need to be completed at various intervals, such as:

• Inspecting for leaks, damage, clogs, and other weather-related issues at least once per season. This is especially important after hurricane season!
• Checking and servicing ventilation and drainage systems twice per year.
• Have a professional inspect and tune up your roof at least twice per year.

Build this roof maintenance plan directly into your broader facilities plan. Be sure to clearly assign responsible parties to complete each task. You’ll also want to create a system for recording that each item in your plan is carried out on time.

Educate Your Team

Train any staff members who have access to the roof in the proper procedures, protocols, and best practices for both your roof and your rooftop equipment. An uninformed employee can unknowingly cause serious damage to your commercial roof.

Be sure your education includes:

• Using designated walkways when accessing the roof. Explain clearly that some areas of your roof are vulnerable and can be damaged by foot traffic.
• The importance of wearing soft-soled shoes. Be sure to explain that certain types of footwear can scuff, scrape, or puncture the roof.
• A demonstration of all safety, harnessing, barricading, and fall protection procedures.

Education like this can pay off in the long run by helping to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. A well-educated staff is not only less likely to cause damage directly, they are also more likely to spot minor problems before they become major ones.

Fix Problems Quickly

No roofing issue will cure itself. Take care of roofing issues the moment they are spotted. They will only get worse.

Follow these best practices to keep your roof in top condition:

• Get to know a roofing contractor in Hollywood, FL. Find a local roofing company with lots of experience working on commercial roofs. Call them, ask them questions, and get to know them. You’ll want someone on your side that you can trust to do fast, honest work.
• This is a penny-wise, pound-foolish situation. Be willing to spend time and money on preventive maintenance, or on fixing even minor issues quickly.
• Inspect your roof regularly. This is in addition to the professional inspections you should be scheduling at least twice per year.
• And when a problem does show up, don’t try for cheap or temporary fixes. Get the job done right the first time and save yourself major headaches down the road.

Regular Inspections

This is the absolute best way to catch small problems before they become major concerns. When scheduling your roofing inspections:

• Schedule two inspections each year, one before and one immediately after hurricane season.
• Be sure to use a roofing contractor in Hollywood, FL that has years of experience inspecting large commercial roofing systems.
• Follow all repair recommendations as soon as possible, even if they seem minor. Remember, those small repairs will prevent major expenses down the road.